burlapp car

2028 Toyota Celica comeback. A few ideas.

By  •  Published:  •  Last updated:

There seem to be more and more rumors about a new Toyota Celica coming out soon. Probably powered by a turbo version of Toyota’s upcoming all-new 2.0 Liter engine. With over 300 HP. And maybe up to 400HP. With AWD.

The illustrations above show what a next-generation Toyota Celica could look klike. All very different takes on the same car. I personally would prefer one that pulls a few deisgn cues from older Celica genations. Like the 1st or 4th image.

Toyota could revive the Celica name, but attach it to something far more extreme than “older” fans expect.

Historically, the Celica was never about being ultra-expensive or over-the-top. It was stylish, attainable, and genuinely fun to drive. A car younger buyers could realistically aspire to own. That’s why recent rumors are raising eyebrows. Up to 400 horsepower is an astonishing number for a four-cylinder, territory that used to belong to supercars not that long ago. Technically impressive? Absolutely. But you can bet it won’t come cheap. Or even affordable.

It also raises an important question: is that what a Celica should be?

If these rumors hold true, a future Celica could come packed with

Buyers are already debating the value of performance coupes in that price range. A high-powered Celica pushing significantly beyond that could risk losing the very identity that made the name iconic. Because the Celica wasn’t about chasing the highest numbers, it was about balance, good looks and affordability.

Models like the GR Corolla, GR86, and Supra prove the brand knows how to build exciting enthusiast cars again. The Gazoo Racing division has delivered performance cars with real character, something that felt missing for years.

But he Celica name carries real history, and different expectations.

If Toyota gets it right, this could become one of the most exciting car comebacks of the decade: a modern coupe that blends heritage, performance, and accessibility.

But if they lean too far into high horsepower and high pricing, it risks becoming something else entirely, a legendary badge applied to the wrong kind of car.

For now, all we can do is watch, speculate, and hope Toyota remembers what made the Celica special in the first place.

And by the way, which one of the illustrations above would you prefer as the next Celica? If any…

Conversation 2 comments

  1. So anyway, back to reality because this is Toyota that you’re talking about, where stylish offerings are as abundant as hen’s teeth … they’re just going to slap a Prius/Prelude front end on a bizarrely styled Corolla coupe with some tacky GR bodykit pieces tacked on, and shove it out the door as a sunk cost pilot product before they axe it again after one model cycle. Because for every person that actually buys a $45K sport compact, there will be ten-thousand wagie gooners on the internet complaining about how it isn’t a 300hp 6-speed RWD fast and furious street racer for under $30K. Grab some popcorn, it’s gonna be fun to watch.

  2. Toyota has the GR86 for its small RWD sporty cars. But its tiny. I would like the Celica to return with inspiration from the larger 1985 Celica liftback (3rd gen) or the 1993 Celica Alltrack Turbo Liftback (5th gen). The last (7th gen) was a major disappointment and built for midgets. It needs to be one full class size bigger … almost Camry sized to take on the Acura Integra.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *